One City, One Symphony is an annual initiative hosted by the CSO that fosters dialogue within the community about various themes and music. This year’s theme focused on freedom.

The poetry contest asked for original submissions responding to the question, “What does freedom mean to you?” Applicants were encouraged to find inspiration in Dvorak’s Ninth Symphony or poems written by Maya Angelou: Forgive, Equality and Elegy.

“The submissions were truly astounding,” says CSO Director of Communications Meghan Berneking. “The themes that came up, the personal experiences — both positive and negative — truly opened the gate for fruitful discussion about this sometimes-challenging theme of freedom.”

Each winner received two tickets to attend the One City, One Symphony concerts Nov. 13-14 as well as a cash prize.

“We hope that this poetry and the dialogue around the concerts will challenge people to think about freedom in a way they maybe haven’t before and feel inspired to continue this discussion into other aspects of life as well,” Berneking says.

The winners of the One City, One Symphony poetry contest are:

High School Division
Grand Prize: Dana Schneider of Edgewood, "Is Freedom Just Not That Into Me?"
1st Prize: Bridget Bill of Cincinnati, "A Snow Globe Sky"
2nd Prize: Alison Maniace of Columbus, "Are We There Yet?"